Steering group hopes to ‘keep the momentum going’ as Nairn development plan set to be launched this week
The final version of a community-led plan setting out priorities for the future development of Nairnshire will be presented to the public this week.
After months of consultation and public engagement across the area, the steering group leading the Local Place Plan project is set to launch the plan at the Muthu Newton Hotel on Wednesday (November 27) at 7pm.
The plan “Our Nairnshire” was submitted to Highland Council in September and, when ratified, aims to provide a statement of the community’s aspirations for the area in the next five-to-ten years.
Subscribe to receive our free email newsletters
With the team from Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) leading the project, the plan is set to be used in the preparation of future local development plans.
NICE secretary, Mandy Lawson, said: “We have built up a big momentum and public interest during the process of putting the plan together.
“Now, we want to keep that positive energy going and get people to come together across agencies, meaning the council and public agencies working with the communities, bodies and people that live here as we go forward.
“Whilst we are still awaiting validation from the council - although this should be only a formality - the next step will be to set up a leadership group, and working groups based on the main themes identified in the plan.”
She said that it is important for the group behind the plan to keep the momentum and deliver on the objectives set out in the plan.
“There will be some things over which we don’t have control,” she explained.
“One of the top priorities that emerged from our consultations was the building of a Nairn bypass and the dualling of the A96, but with the current slow rate of progress, this is unlikely to be fully completed during the 10-year scope of this first local place plan.
“The development at Ardersier and with the Green Freeport are also outwith our control, however, in the meantime, there are many other more achievable local improvements and aspirations set out in this community-led Plan which could be worked on collaboratively by local stakeholders, working in partnership and pooling resources effectively at a local level to future proof Nairnshire and help this place thrive. “
Local Place Plans are a new kind of community-led local planning document legally recognised in Scotland from 2024 under National Planning Framework 4.
This is the first one for Nairn and the hope is that it will inspire the next generation of plans across the country.
Its outline is focusing on five key themes, namely Sustainable Futures, Jobs and Business, Town and Village Centres, Green Space and Leisure, and Getting Around.
Ms Lawson continued: “A lot of people have helped make it happen, and we want to celebrate that success.
“But now, we really have to deliver. Too many times people have been consulted and then seen their feedback not taken forward.
“I think people have felt that decisions are made without them knowing anything about it at times, so it’s really important that the community feels engaged.”
According to the LPP team, levering in funds for local developments will be key and likely to be a mix of public funding, including developer contributions, private investment and ‘crowdsourcing’.
“It’s about tackling local problems at a local level, using local knowledge and resources,” Ms Lawson added.
“We already have a strong track record of community-led ventures to build on in Nairn. An integrated approach to Nairnshire’s development will also be needed.
“Strategic local plans for tourism, climate resilience and economic growth proposed for Nairnshire must be taken forward in a joined-up way so that they complement each other, and minimise negative effects, taking account of health, social, environmental and economic impacts of physical developments.
“There are some big challenges ahead for Nairnshire but developing this plan has confirmed how resourceful and passionate our local community is to get things right for this place.”
Our Nairnshire Local Place Plan can be found in digital format at ournairnshire.org, and more information on the presentation can be found at nicenairn.org.uk/youre-invited
